Scorpions looking to ride hot streak

Updated 10:59 pm, Friday, May 18, 2012

San Antonio's Walter Ramirez spins under Keith Savage as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio's Walter Ramirez spins under Keith Savage as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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The Rowdies' Luke Mulholland comes back to the ball against Ryan Cochrane as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

The Rowdies' Luke Mulholland comes back to the ball against Ryan Cochrane as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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San Antonio's Wes Knight moves the ball against Takuya Yamada as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio's Wes Knight moves the ball against Takuya Yamada as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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San Antonio's Walter Ramirez tries to get by Stuart Campbell as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio's Walter Ramirez tries to get by Stuart Campbell as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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San antonio's Ryan Cochrane controls a header against Matt Clare as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

San antonio's Ryan Cochrane controls a header against Matt Clare as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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The Scorpions gather before the game for a team picture as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

The Scorpions gather before the game for a team picture as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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The Rowdies' Keith Savage controls as Kevin Harmse can't reach him as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

The Rowdies' Keith Savage controls as Kevin Harmse can't reach him as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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San Antonio goalie Daryl Sattler recognizes the crowd as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio goalie Daryl Sattler recognizes the crowd as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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San antonio's Pablo Campos and JP Rodrigues challenge on a header as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

San antonio's Pablo Campos and JP Rodrigues challenge on a header as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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San Antonio surrounds Matt Clare as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio surrounds Matt Clare as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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San Antonio's Pablo Campos gets knocked down before he can try a shot at the net as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio's Pablo Campos gets knocked down before he can try a shot at the net as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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The Rowdies' Frankie Sanfilippo bumps the ball away from Hans Denissen as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

The Rowdies' Frankie Sanfilippo bumps the ball away from Hans Denissen as the Scorpions host Tampa Bay in NASL action at Heroes Stadium on May 5, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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The Scorpions' Kevin Harmse (6) is given a yellow card by the referee during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Kevin Harmse (6) is given a yellow card by the referee during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez (right) tries to get past Fort Lauderdale's Nickardo Blake (left) during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez (right) tries to get past Fort Lauderdale's Nickardo Blake (left) during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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Scorpions players huddle on the field before their match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Scorpions players huddle on the field before their match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez (right) tries to get past Fort Lauderdale's Nickardo Blake (6) during a NASL match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez (right) tries to get past Fort Lauderdale's Nickardo Blake (6) during a NASL match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Pablo Campos (9) leaps to control a ball between two Fort Lauderdale players during their match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Pablo Campos (9) leaps to control a ball between two Fort Lauderdale players during their match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Pablo Campos (9) leaps as he tries to get off a shot on the goal during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Pablo Campos (9) leaps as he tries to get off a shot on the goal during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Pablo Campos (9) leaps as he tries to get off a shot on the goal during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Pablo Campos (9) leaps as he tries to get off a shot on the goal during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions players and Fort Lauderdale players push and shove each other as the Scorpions' Kevin Harmse (6) lies on the ground after a hard foul during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions players and Fort Lauderdale players push and shove each other as the Scorpions' Kevin Harmse (6) lies on the ground after a hard foul during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez is grabbed from behind by Fort Lauderdale's Loepoldo Morales (11) during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez is grabbed from behind by Fort Lauderdale's Loepoldo Morales (11) during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez (right) tries to work the ball around Fort Lauderdale's Loepoldo Morales (left) during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez (right) tries to work the ball around Fort Lauderdale's Loepoldo Morales (left) during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Kevin Harmse (right) tries to work the ball around Fort Lauderdale's Aly Hassan (left) during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Kevin Harmse (right) tries to work the ball around Fort Lauderdale's Aly Hassan (left) during a match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Pablo Campos pleads for a foul with the referee during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Pablo Campos pleads for a foul with the referee during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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Scorpions fans celebrate after Pablo Campos (9) scored the first goal in team history during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Scorpions fans celebrate after Pablo Campos (9) scored the first goal in team history during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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Scorpions fans celebrate after Pablo Campos (9) scored the first goal in team history during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Scorpions fans celebrate after Pablo Campos (9) scored the first goal in team history during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scropions' Pablo Campos (9) celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scropions' Pablo Campos (9) celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during a match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Matt Glaeser leaps to grab a ball in traffic during a match between the Scorpions and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Matt Glaeser leaps to grab a ball in traffic during a match between the Scorpions and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez (right) tries to get past Fort Lauderdale's Nickardo Blake (left) during their match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

The Scorpions' Walter Ramirez (right) tries to get past Fort Lauderdale's Nickardo Blake (left) during their match on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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Scorpions looking to ride hot streak

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It wasn't so long ago, after an 0-1-1 start, that the Scorpions would have taken a victory any way they could get it, style points be damned.

While they are still not in the mood to give back any hard-earned results, their recent hot streak has given them the capacity to be a bit more discerning.

Such was the case following last Saturday's 2-1 triumph at Tampa Bay, a result Scorpions coach Tim Hankinson described as “the ugliest three points ever.”

Despite failing to possess the ball to their normal standards and some shaky moments on defense, the Scorpions survived with a pair of goals from Pablo Campos, including the winner in injury time.

Team captain Kevin Harmse said he has yet to look at the North American Soccer League standings. If he did, he would see the Scorpions (3-2-1, 11 points) sitting in third with a match in hand after taking 10 of a possible 12 points from their last four games.

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They have won three straight entering tonight's home match against sixth-place FC Edmonton (2-1-3, seven points). The match, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Heroes Stadium, opens a favorable stretch for the Scorpions, who will play three of their next four outings at home.

Harmse had no interest in looking that far ahead, preferring to focus on tightening things up following last week's match.

“Throughout the year, the best teams are the ones who grind games out and get those points on the road,” he said. “I'm not saying we're one of the best teams. I'm just saying the better we get that mentality, the better off we'll be.”

Home or away, the Scorpions have been adept at playing until the bitter end. Excluding their dominant 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay on May 5, they have snatched points in the 83rd minute or later in the other three matches during their streak.

“We were proud of the fight,” Hankinson said of last week's victory. “The important thing was to not let go of the game, and our guys engaged that.”